COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — The University System of Maryland Board of Regents is acknowledging it violated state open meetings law by secretly meeting to discuss the University of Maryland’s move to the Big Ten athletic conference.

The board said in a statement Friday that officials “sincerely regret” not following Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, which requires public boards to announce meetings. Those meetings can then be closed if there is a legal reason.

The regents met on two days in November without public notice.

The regents could face a lawsuit as a result, but a fine for the error would not be more than $100.

Maryland didn’t need the board’s approval to move to the Big Ten but sought it because it was a high-profile decision.